Differences between diagnostic and procedural coding

What are the differences between diagnostic and procedural coding?
What is the name of the major coding system for each?
Why is it important to use the correct codes when processing claims?

Solution Preview

What are the differences between diagnostic and procedural coding?
"No words are required to be on a medical claim form. Everything that a doctor does and why it was needed appears on the claim forms as a series of codes" (The Coding Network, n.d.).
Procedural coding:
Procedural coding relates to or uses the Current Procedural Terminology ("CPT") coding system with the aim of providing "uniform language that accurately describes medical, surgical, and diagnostic services" ("CPT-ICD9 Codes," n.d.). A CPT code consists of a five digit numeric code used to identify and delineate services rendered by physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers whether medical, surgical, radiology, laboratory, anesthesiology, and evaluation/management services ("CPT-ICD9 Codes," n.d.; The Coding Network, n.d.). The American Medical Association ...